Did you know Russell Brand got married in India? A look back at the English comedian's Hindu wedding with Katy Perry

From being in front of a microphone to ending up in a courthouse.

Talk about the ‘transition’.

British comedian Russell Brand has been charged with several counts of sexual assault in the United Kingdom. According to a statement from London’s Metropolitan Police published on Friday, Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile entertainers and broadcasters, has been faced one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two of sexual assault.

According to the news agency AP, the alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005.

Police said that Brand is due to appear in a London court on May 2.

"The Met's investigation remains open, and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police," the statement said.


"We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences," said Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service. He added, "We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023. We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault."

However, the English comedian has denied the accusations, saying in a video posted on X that he had been an addict in the past "but what I never was was a rapist". He said, "I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist. I've never engaged in non consensual activity.”


Who is Russell Brand?

Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, and media personality who established himself as a stand-up comedian and radio host before becoming a film actor.


After beginning his career as a comedian and later becoming an MTV presenter in the UK, in 2004 Brand gained a role as the host of the television show Big Brother's Big Mouth, a Big Brother spin-off. He had his first major film role in British comedy St Trinian's (2007) before starring in the Hollywood comedies Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Arthur (2011), and Rock of Ages (2012). He has released several stand-up specials, including Scandalous (2009), Messiah Complex (2013), and Brandemic (2023). He hosted his own radio show The Russell Brand Show (2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017), and also hosts the podcasts Stay Free with Russell Brand and Under the Skin with Russell Brand. He has received three British Comedy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award.

However, Brand’s claim to fame came when the comedian started dating the pop sensation Katy Perry and married her in India.


Relationship with Katy Perry:

Brand first met American singer Katy Perry in mid-2009 when she filmed a cameo for his movie ‘Get Him to the Greek’, although her appearance was ultimately cut from the film. They began dating after reconnecting at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in September. The couple became engaged on New Year's Eve 2009 during a holiday in India and married on October 23, 2010, in a Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan.



The indian wedding:

Katy Perry and Russell Brand had a wedding in India, specifically at a luxury resort outside the Ranthambore sanctuary on October 23, 2010, which was described as a traditional Indian wedding with Hindu influences.

Brand, who used to be Buddhist, showed interest in the Hare Krishna movement and wrote in a 2007 Guardian column: "I say Hare Krishna as often as possible, sometimes even when I'm not being filmed".

Brand and Perry’s Hindu wedding took place at a luxury resort outside the Ranthambore sanctuary in Rajasthan, India, on October 23, 2010. The ceremony was conducted by a Hindu priest and attended by family and close friends. The wedding incorporated traditional Indian wedding elements, including a procession with elephants, Indian instruments, and Rajasthani folk musicians.

Celebrities like Jonathan Ross, David Walliams, and Rihanna were reported to have attended the wedding.



The divorce:

On December 30, 2011, Brand filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and their divorce was finalized in July 2012. In her July 2012 autobiographical documentary, ‘Katy Perry: Part of Me’, Perry revealed that the couple struggled with conflicting career schedules and that she didn't feel ready to have children. She also mentioned in an interview that Brand was uncomfortable with her being "the boss" and that the last time she heard from him was on December 31, 2011, when he texted her to announce the divorce.

Just days after the divorce was finalized, Brand stated in an interview with Howard Stern that he had been deeply in love with Perry but realized after their marriage that "this isn't really working out." He explained, "I was really, really in love with her, but it was difficult to see each other... it mostly didn't work for practical reasons." When pressed for further details, Brand declined to elaborate, saying, "I don't want anything to hurt her. She's younger than me, she's a young woman, and she's beautiful and sensitive. I care about her deeply."

Brand, who married Perry without a prenuptial agreement, had the right to claim half of the estimated $44 million she earned during their marriage but chose not to do so.